Fannin student dies in crash

By AJ Narasimhan

November 02, 2006 09:52 am

— An accident caused by a wild hog in the roadway left one Fannin Elementary student dead and one Barry woman seriously injured late Tuesday night.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Carlon Stapleton, the mother and daughter were on their way home after a night of trick-or-treating when the accident occurred.
Troopers were dispatched to the one-car accident on FM 3383, a few miles north of the city limits.
Kim Watkins-Williams, 38, was traveling northbound on the farm road driving a 1993 Toyota 4-Runner at approximately 11:33 p.m. Williams had her daughter Evyn Williams, 8, in the passenger seat.
According to Stapleton, the vehicle struck the hog, lost control of the vehicle and went into a ditch. The vehicle continued to travel past a fence line and into a wooded area striking a tree on the left front side.
“The roads were black and the hog was black, so it was very hard to see,” Stapleton said.
This is not the first time a vehicle has hit a hog. Wild hog accidents are becoming more and more common, Stapleton added.
Corsicana Fire and Rescue, Corsicana Police and the Navarro County Sheriff’s Department all responded to the scene.
The elder Williams was transported via air-ambulance to Parkland Hospital in Dallas with serious injuries. The daughter was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Connie Mayfield. The body was transported to Corley’s Funeral Home in Corsicana.
Stapleton said both were wearing safety belts, however, the younger Williams only had her lap belt intact and was not wearing a shoulder restraint.
“(The child) had her shoulder belt behind her,” Stapleton said.
Students at Fannin Elementary, where Evyn was a student, were given notes to take home, and counselors were on campus for students who needed to talk, said Kristin Zastoupil, district spokeswoman.
“All the counselors there are ready to help students through the grieving process,” she said.
Evyn was in second grade at Fannin Elementary. It was her first year at the school.
Texas Department of Public Safety is continuing to investigate with Trooper Casey Crocker serving as the lead.
Janet Jacobs contributed to this report.
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AJ Narasimhan may be contacted via e-mail at ajn@corsicanadailysun.com